Category: Traffic

Riding a motorcycle can be a great experience. Riding into the wind and the connection a rider has to the machine they are on adds to the excitement. Motorcycle riding has even often been associated with “freedom.” Unfortunately these attributes also pose a danger to the rider or passenger of a motorcycle. With May being recognized as Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, let’s do a rundown of appropriate safety gear to use while piloting a motorcycle.

Helmets. Everyone has an opinion on them. Helmets are probably the single most important piece of safety equipment you could use with a motorcycle. Head trauma is a real danger to motorcyclists. Remember, motorcyclists are not encased in the “cage” of an automobile, and have very little to protect them. But doesn’t the law say that helmets are optional? That depends. In Florida, a rider may not utilize a helmet if they are at least 21 years of age and have at least $10,000 in medical benefits for injuries incurred as a result of a crash. For some, the choice is yours. If you’re under 21 years of age, or without the proper medical coverage, there are many comfortable, stylish helmets to choose from.

Eyewear. This is mandatory in Florida for all riders, no exclusions. A full faced helmet covers the eyewear requirement. I imagine that anyone that has been hit in the face with an insect or other debris at highway speeds understands the reasons why eyewear is not optional.

Gloves. Gloves reduce hand fatigue and offer excellent hand protection if the unexpected happens. Leather construction is typically believed to be better than synthetic fabrics, although the synthetics are catching up.

Long Sleeved Shirt/Jacket and Pants. Road rash is terrible. We’d prefer you to keep your skin on your body, and not donate it to the roadway. Long pants and jackets protect a rider from abrasions and the elements of the outdoors. Like gloves, leather construction is often the better choice for abrasion resistance, with the textiles often being superior in weather resistance. Today, energy absorbing armor is often incorporated into clothing providing additional safety

Boots or Footwear with ankle protection. Your ankles are vulnerable on a motorcycle. If for some unforeseen reason you end up laying the motorcycle down, you’ll appreciate the added protection. Riding boots are often designed with reinforced material in the toe area for shifter operation, and a stiff sole for crush resistance.

While this list is not all-encompassing, it represents the basic equipment that all motorcycle riders should consider before throwing your leg over the machine. The Hernando County Sheriff’s Office respects a Motorcycle operator’s desire to ride. We even use them ourselves to enforce traffic regulations throughout our community. Our mission is to ensure that all of our citizens and visitors make it home safely. Please ride responsibly and safely.

Child safety seats, when used correctly, can reduce the risk of death to infants by 71 percent, and 54 percent for children aged 1-4. The single most important thing you can do to protect your children is to buckle them up properly, every time, in the right seat.

Let’s review car safety seat guidelines as defined by Florida law:

Children through 3 years old require a separate carrier or a vehicle manufacturer’s integrated child seat ~

Children 4 through 5 years of age require a separate carrier, an integrated child seat or a child booster seat ~

Children 5 through 18 years must be restrained by a safety belt.

To add to the law, children are typically safer in a backseat position of the vehicle. Also, never put a rear facing infant or convertible safety seat in the front passenger seat if the vehicle is equipped with an active passenger airbag.

Our children are our most precious cargo. It’s our responsibility, as parents and guardians, to make sure they make it to their destination safely.

This may sound like common sense: Turn your headlights on while driving at night. Over and over, vehicles are being observed driving down the road with no operational vehicle lighting. Many drivers not even realizing/forgetting to turn on their lights.

Why would that be?

Today’s cars and trucks are more sophisticated than ever. Many vehicles today are equipped with an illuminated instrument panel even when the headlights are not turned on, or set in an automatic mode. In previous years, dashboard lights were only lit when the exterior lighting was operated. Now they’re on day or night by design. Daytime running lights, while a safety asset during daylight, add to the nighttime deception. Daytime Running Lights (DRLs) were designed primarily to increase your vehicle’s visibility to other drivers, using your headlamps. Tail lamps are completely independent of DRLs, and not activated unless the service lighting has been turned on, leaving the rear of your vehicle particularly vulnerable. Also, DRLs typically emit a lower wattage illumination than the service lighting on a vehicle, which is insufficient for night operation. This equipment, although beneficial, trick drivers into believing their lights are on, even when they’re not.

The next time you’re preparing for a nighttime trip, make sure your service lights are functioning. See and be seen.

April has been commemorated as Distracted Driving Awareness Month. Distracted driving comes in various forms, from texting while driving, to much simpler acts, such as adjusting the radio or climate control, which can prove just as hazardous. What are driving distractions? Any stimulus that contains a distraction component:

It’s warming up, and motorcycles are out. Motorcyclists are entitled to the same rights as any other driver on the roadways. Unfortunately motorcycles are typically much smaller than a car or truck, making them much harder to see. In an effort to minimize motorcycle related crashes, use the following tips:

Keep an eye out. Motorcycles easily blend in with other vehicular traffic, and are often unnoticed. Train yourself to look for motorcycles.

It’s harder to judge a motorcycle’s distance or speed. Again, due to a motorcycle’s size, it may look further away than it is. Assume the motorcycle is closer than it is.

Give them room. Motorcyclists are more vulnerable to weather conditions and sometimes have to adjust their riding style to accommodate. Road hazards also play a role in a motorcyclist’s path of travel. Hazards that may be inconsequential to a four wheeled motorist could be disastrous to a motorcycle if not avoided. Oily roadways and asphalt related road failures are prime examples.

By having some understanding of our two wheeled traffic, traffic accidents can be reduced, making our roadways safer. Remember to share the road.